1997 marked twenty-five years of a successful campaign to create and institutionalize Women's Studies here at UMass. Our faculty and curriculum have provided an interdisciplinary and visionary challenge to the often monocultural approaches traditionally offered in the academy. What better time to celebrate the demonstrated leadership of women in the study of gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality and national context in higher education? In support of our next twenty years, we were proud to have formed a new group, Friends of Women's Studies. Funds raised have been used for special events and speakers, visiting lecturers and student scholarships.

If you'd like to donate to this fund, please use this form to mail back with your donation.

FRIENDS EVENTS

In January, 2004, Women's Studies and the International Programs Office sponsored a trip to Cuba to particpate in a Gender Studies Conference at the University of Havana. There were 27 members of the delegation, including 8 faculty members, 9 graduate students, 9 undergraduates, and 1 senior high school students. The Friends fund gave scholarships to some of these students to help offset the cost of the trip. Some Friends of Women's Studies were solicited for further funding and were very generous. To read more about the trip click here to see the form sent to the Friends mailing list and here to see the accompanying letter describing the trip.

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On August 21, 1999, a small but intrepid group of Friends' of Womens Studies journeyed in the rain to a special performance of Tina Packer's, "An Afternoon with Virginia Woolf" in the Wharton Theatre at the Mount, Edith Wharton's former home in Lenox Mass. The performance was one of many offered by Shakespeare & Company. Special thanks to one of our best friends Christina Platt, the co-chair of the WOST friends' group, for organizing and publicizing the event and her generous donation to cover the ticket costs, which allowed the event to be a success. The trip included the performance, a box supper and a spirited discussion afterwards.

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The event that inspired the creation of the Friends' of Women's Studies, The Women Activists' Reunion was held on September 25-28, 1997 here at UMass. Starting on Thursday and running through Sunday there were many interesting, informative and fun events.

A sampling of some of the events offered: Eleanor Batemen Alumni Scholar in Residence Award to Susan F. Crane, Executive Director of International Family Health in London; the Lois E. Toko and the Class of '56 Lecture Series presented Massachusetts State Representatives Ellen Story (D-Amherst/Pelham), Anne Paulsen (D-Belmont), Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville) and Suleyken Walker, Executive Director of MA Caucus of Women Legislatures; the Women Activists Reunion Choir led by Eveline MacDougall, Founder and Director of the Amandla Community Choir; Crossworlds - A Conversation, Coretta Scott King, Widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Patricia Schroeder, Former Congresswoman of Colorado; Conversations with Foremothers; an Alumni and Faculty Book Display...among many other events and lectures. Click here to see pictures from the reunion.